Quote History Quoted:Actually, this is something I've always wondered about. Do people with progressive presses hand prime?
I'm fixin to set up a progressive and using a single stage I've always done what you're doing and kinda wanted to keep doing so.
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I can't speak for anyone but myself.
Short answer; loading pistol, nope, the 1050 does just fine. Rifle I do hand prime, but that's because I just don't load much rifle. I really should load more rifle.
It depends on what kind of accuracy you are trying for in your rifle. At a minimum you will want to clean the primer pocket. Higher levels of accuracy will require truing and uniforming the primer pocket and uniforming/deburring the flash hole.
Another factor is the progressive press itself. Does it prime on the down or up stroke? In the Dillon line, I think the 1050/1100 are the only ones that seat the primer on the down stroke. They also have a primer pocket swager. A press that seats the primer on the up stroke gives you a sense of feel for the primer going in. BUT, that press arm is long with plenty of mechanical advantage.
I have a few different hand priming tools. After trying them I still like the Lee best for being able to feel the primer seat. Also you get a
really strong thumb using the Lee.
YMMV.